Downspout muffler



FIPtfiOGP. OR 2 8139593 Nov. 19, 1957 F. N. GLADDING 2,813,593

DOWNSPOUT MUFFLER Filed Feb. 26, 1954 Francis IV. G/aoQ/hg I N V EN TOR.

United States Fatent O DOWNSPOUT MUFFLER Francis N. Gladding, Washington, D. C.

Application February 26, 1954, Serial No. 412,856

' 11 Claims. Cl. 181-42) The present invention relates generally to downspouts and has for its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, novel means in the form of an attachment for substantially eliminating or silencing the well known annoying ping made by dripping drops of water or dew falling free in the pipe and striking the bottom of the nozzle thereof during and following rain storms or, in the case of dew, in the early morning hours.

Another very important object of the invention is to provide a muffler or silencer of the aforementioned character which may be expeditiously and firmly secured in position for use in a conventional downspout and removed therefrom when desired without the necessity of altering said downspout in any way.

Still another important object of the invention is to provide a downspout muffier of the character set forth which may be readily adjusted to meet various conditions which may be encountered as, for instance, spouts or nozzles of various lengths.

Still another important object is to provide, in a downspout muffler including a sound absorbing bafile or pad and a holder therefor, a unique construction and arrangement of parts whereby the baffle or pad may be conveniently removed for renewal, if necessary.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a downspout mufiier which will be simple in construction, durable, compact, highly efficient and reliable in use and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure l is a view principally in vertical longitudinal section through the lower portion of a downspout, showing a muffier embodying the present invention in position therein;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the muffler showing a portion of the bar broken away;

Figure 3 is a view in vertical longitudinal section, taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a modification;

Figure 5 is a perspective view, showing another form of the device.

Referring now to the drawing in detail and to Figure 1 thereof in particular, it will be seen that reference character designates the lower portion of a conventional downspout of substantially rectangular cross section which is suitably secured, as at 11, on a building or other supporting structure 12. At its lower end, the downspout 10 terminates in the usual elbow 13 for directing the water away from the structure 12 onto a splash apron 14.

The muffler or silencer of the present invention comprises a holder of resilient metal, plastic or other suitable material which is designated generally by reference char- 2,813,593 Patented Nov. 19, 1957 acter 15. In the embodiment of Figures 1, 2 and 3, of the drawing, the holder 15 includes a bar 16 of suitable dimensions, having removably and adjustably mounted on one end thereof a sound absorbing bafile or pad 17 of sponge rubber, foam rubber or other suitable material. Toward this end, the bar 16 has struck from its forward end portion an integral, upwardly and forwardly projecting resilient jaw or clip 18 for the reception of the pad 17 therebeneath. In this manner a pair of spaced, parallel jaws 19 are formed on the forward end of the bar 16 on which the pad 17 rests. Prongs or teeth 20 are struck from the jaws 18 and 19 for anchoring the pad 17 therebetween.

The holder 15 with the pad 17 mounted thereon, is adapted to be secured longitudinally in the elbow 13 with the bar 16 resting on the bottom 21 of said elbow. Toward this end, the bar 16 terminates in a downwardly and reversely bent inner or rear end portion providing a resilient clip or clamp 22 which is engageable beneath the bottom 21 of the elbow 13 for frictionally securing the mufiler in position therein in conjunction with the bar 16. As best seen in Figure 2 of the drawing, the clip or clamp 22 is longitudinally slitted to provide a series or multiplicity of resilient fingers 23 to ensure a plurality of contacts with the bottom 21 of the elbow 13 which is frequently longitudinally corrugated.

It is thought that the operation or use of the device will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, the pad 17 is inserted between the jaws 18 and 19 of the holder 15 and the assembly is inserted longitudinally in the elbow 13 of the downspout 10. The resilient clip or clamp 22 is slipped longitudinally beneath the bottom 21 of the elbow 13 until the pad 17 abuts the inner or rear wall 24 of the downspout 10. With the muffler thus inserted, drops of water falling free in the downspout 10 will strike the absorbent pad 17 rather than the bottom 21 of the elbow 13 thus preventing the highly objectionable noise or ping. It is to be noted that the resilient clip or clamp 22 is of a substantial length to permit the device to be readily installed in elbows of different lengths. Toward this end also, the pad 17 may be readily adjusted longitudinally between the jaws 18 and 19. The adjustability of the device for the purpose set forth constitutes a highly important and desirable feature of the invention. The construction and arrangement of parts also is such that the device may be readily installed in downspout elbows of circular cross section, the resilient pad 17 readily conforming to the curvature of this type of elbow. Still further, by adjusting the resilient pad 17 forwardly beyond the free ends of the jaws 18 and 19, the free forwardly projecting portion of said pad may be caused to engage and conform to the curvature of rounded elbows.

In the embodiment of Figure'4 of the drawing, the holder comprises a bar 25 having the longitudinal marginal portions of its forward end portion longitudinally slitted and formed to provide a pair of spaced, parallel resilient upper clips or jaws 26 and a single intermediate lower jaw 27. The jaws 26 and '27 receive the pad 17 therebetween and said jaws have struck therefrom prongs or teeth 28 for anchoring said pad in position. The two jaws 26 provide a pair of spaced shoulders 29 which abut the pad 17 for stabilizing same.

In the modification of Figure 5 of the drawing, reference character 30 designates generally a holder comprising a bar 31 of resilient metal, plastic or other suitable material. Molded or otherwise suitably secured on one end portion of the bar 31 is a sound absorbing pad or battle 32 of sponge rubber, foam rubber, or other suitable material. At its other end, the bar 31 terminates in a downwardly and reversely bent clamp or clip 33 of a substantial length for engagement under the bottom of the downspout elbow. A setscrew 34 is threadedly mounted in the clip or clamp 33 for engagement with the bottom of the elbow.

The bar 31 with the pad 32 thereon, is inserted longitudinally in the elbow of the downspout with clip or clamp 33 engaged beneath the bottom of said elbow. The setscrew 34 is then tightened for firmly securing the device in position.

It is believed that the many advantages of a downspout mufiler or silencer constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood and although preferred embodiments of the device are as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that further modifications and changes in the details of construction may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

l. A mufiler attachment for downspouts comprising: a bar insertablein the'downspout, a sound absorbing pad mounted on the bar, and means for securing said bar in the downspout, said means including a downspout clamping clamp on the bar clampingly engageable with the downspout.

2. A muffler for downspouts comprising: a bar insertable longitudinally in the lower portion of the downspout, a sound absorbing pad on one end portion of the bar, and a clamp on the other end portion of the bar engageable with the downspout for securing said bar therein.

3. A mufiler for downspouts comprising: a bar insertable longitudinally in the downspout, and a sound absorbing pad mounted on the inner end portion of the bar, said bar terminating in a reversely bent outer end portion engageable beneath the downspout for frictionally securing the bar in position therein.

4. A muffiet for downspouts comprising: a resilient bar insertable longitudinally in a downspout and a sound absorbing pad mounted on the inner portion of the bar, said bar including a reversely bent outer end portion comprising a plurality of parallel, resilient fingers engageable beneath the downspout for securing the bar therein.

5. A downspout mufiler comprising: a bar insertable in the downspout, a sound absorbing pad mounted on the bar, means for securing the pad to the bar, and means for securing the bar in the downspout, the first-named means including spaced, parallel coacting resilient jaws on one end of the bar for receiving and retaining the pad therebetween.

6. A downspout mufiler comprising: a bar insertable in the downspout, a sound absorbing pad mounted on the bar, means for securing the pad to the bar, and means for securing the bar in the downspout, the first-named means including spaced, parallel coacting resilient jaws on one end of the bar for receiving and retaining the pad therebetween, the last-named means comprising a reversely bent, resilient clamp on one end of the bar engageable beneath the downspout.

7. A downspout mufiler comprising: a bar insertable in the downspout, a sound absorbing pad on one end portion of the bar, and a resilient jaw on said one end portion of the bar and cooperable therewith for securing the pad in position thereon.

8. A downspout mufiler comprising: a bar insertable in the downspout, a sound. absorbing pad onone end portion of the bar, and a pair of spaced; parallel, resilient jaws on said one end portion of said bar and cooperable therewith for securing the pad thereon.

9. A downspout mufiler comprising: a bar insertable in the downspout, a sound absorbing pad on one end portion of the bar, a reversely bent clamp on the other end of the bar, and a setscrew threadedly mounted in the clamp and engageable with the downspout for securing the bar in position therein.

10. In combination with a lower downspout elbow, a muffler attachment, said downspout elbow including a generally vertical portion and a lower generally horizontal portion, said muffler attachment comprising a sound absorbing pad seated in said generally horizontal portion in alignment with said generally vertical portion, an elongated bar, means on one end of said elongated bar securing said sound absorbing pad to said elongated bar, and other means on the other end of said elongated bar remote from said sound absorbing pad engaging said downspout and retaining said elongated bar and said sound absorbing pad in position.

11. In combination with a lower downspout elbow, a muffler attachment, said downspout elbow including a generally vertical portion and a lower generally horizontal portion, said mufiler attachment comprising a sound absorbing pad seated in said generally horizontal portion in alignment with said generally vertical portion, an elongated bar, means on one end of said elongated bar securing said sound absorbing pad to said elongated bar, and other means on the other end of said elongated bar remote from said sound absorbing pad engaging said downspout and retaining said elongated bar and said sound absorbing pad in position, said generally horizontal portion having a free end remote from said generally vertical portion, said other means being in the form of a clamp clampingly engaged about said free end.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 803,028 Thomas Oct. 31, 1905 866,762 Wilson Sept. 24, 1907 )5 v 1,475,315 Quinn Nov. 27, 1923 4/," 2,379,179 Petersen June 26, 1945 .11 2,457,473 Incampo Dec. 28, 1948 9' r 2,524,922 Moburg Oct. 10, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 234,682 Switzerland Feb. 1, 1945 

